Chicago City Wire

After a year of leading the New Arrivals Mission, Mayor Brandon Johnson has established a national model for compassionate resettlement of asylum seekers. This model leverages intergovernmental collaboration, cost-saving measures, innovative partnerships with faith and philanthropic communities, and comprehensive services. The news comes as the city recently decompressed temporary emergency shelter at the former Wadsworth Elementary School building at 6420 S. University Ave.

"When I took over this Mission a year ago, there were thousands of asylum seekers sleeping on police station floors with almost a thousand more living at our City’s airports," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "I'm proud of the work that we have accomplished this first year to move folks out of police stations and into temporary emergency shelter where they have received medical services, become part of our public education system, and have made major strides on the path to independence and self-sufficiency."

Chicago has welcomed more than 41,000 new arrivals at the City’s landing zone through its partnership with the State of Illinois. More than 23,000 new arrivals have been resettled in the area or reunited with sponsors or family. Chicago’s temporary emergency shelter system for new arrivals currently houses fewer than 8,000 residents.

Significant cost savings have been achieved by renegotiating staffing contracts and implementing limits on shelter stay durations. The city has reduced its total shelters from 27 to 16, saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars over the next year.

The city has also worked diligently to reduce operational costs through various partnerships and shelter models. These include intergovernmental agreements, philanthropic partnerships, community-based organizations, informal mutual aid partnerships, and partnership with the faith community.

Mayor Johnson announced in February a campaign called New Neighbors to formally integrate volunteers into the City’s Mission through partnerships with ChicagoCares, Chicago Refugee Coalition, and Americorps VISTA.

In April, Mayor Johnson announced a unique partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cook County, and the Zakat Foundation to open a temporary shelter for as many as 320 people at the former St. Bartholomew parish convent and school.

The cornerstone of the City’s compassionate resettlement efforts has been the ongoing partnership with local community partners, the State of Illinois, Cook County, and federal partners throughout this Mission. The City’s collaborative approach has worked to support new arrivals on the path to self-sufficiency by providing basic necessities including food, temporary emergency shelter, urgent medical care, education, vaccines, case management, rental assistance and other resettlement supports.

Mayor Johnson and the City of Chicago express sincere appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of all City workers who have played a role in the New Arrivals Mission over the course of the past year.